Samsung Galaxy Note II at Rs 39,990

Samsung Electronics launched its latest Galaxy device as part of efforts to better compete with Apple's newly released iPhone 5. Priced at Rs Rs 39,990 in India, the new version of the Note features a thinner and slightly bigger 5.5-inch screen, quad-core processor, the latest version of the Android operating system called Jellybean, and improved stylus function.

The Galaxy Note II is powered by the latest version of Android operating system, 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The device is equipped with a new 1.6 GHz quad-core processor that helps run multiple applications faster than the dual-core processor of the previous version.

Nokia unveils Asha 308 and Asha 309 full-touch smartphones

Nokia unveiled the Asha 308 and Asha 309, the latest additions to the Asha Touch family of mobile devices. They are tagged as the Nokia’s most affordable capacitive touchscreen devices to date giving consumers fast web access at low cost. The Nokia Asha 308 features easy swap Dual SIM and Asha 309 is the single SIM variant with WiFi. Asha 308 and 309 deliver a full smartphone experience enriched with new Nokia web services and developer tools. Nokia estimates the retail price for the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 to be about Rs 5300, excluding taxes and subsidies, with shipping expected to start in the fourth quarter 2012. 

The new devices offer a fluid 'swipe' user interface and an open environment for third-party application development, characteristics that have earned the complete Asha Touch range full smartphone classification from global market research companies and analysts such as GfK and IDC."Our innovative Asha Touch family of devices is designed for people who want a great smartphone experience with lower running costs," said Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "By introducing the Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309, we're expanding our affordable smartphone lineup and bringing new mobile experiences to more people." 

Samsung's new Anti-iPhone 5 advertisement is the Fastest-Growing Viral Tech Video

Samsung's new TV ad for the Galaxy S III — which takes shots at Apple fanboys waiting for the iPhone 5 — is the fastest-growing viral video in tech, with more than 120,492 shares in social media in the past 24 hours, according to Unruly Media.
In fact, Samsung has so successfully cornered the viral tech ad video market that it also holds all three top spots on the Tech Viral Video Chart, with a combined 138,074 views in the past 24 hours for the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II, and Galaxy Note 10.1.
Meanwhile, Apple's iPhone 5 spot is sixth on the list, with only 553 shares in the past 24 hours. (Many Apple fans watched the spot on Apple's own website, which is unshareable.)
Unruly Media has been tracking and auditing online video views since 2006. It follows more than 1.65 billion video views across 2,000 online video campaigns for over 400 brands.
Samsung's tricky media buys and clever ads have leveraged the hype surrounding the release of Apple iPhone 5 for Samsung's benefit.
Samsung's commercial runs with the tagline: "The next big thing is already here." It shows a line of eager Apple fans waiting outside a store to buy the iPhone 5. But random Samsung users weave in and out of the line, comparing the Galaxy S III's features, to the iPhone 5, such as the new, possibly inconvenient adapter on the iPhone 5, and the fact that after five iterations Apple is only now introducing a larger screen.
The commercial also snagged the No.1 spot on the list of the top 20 most viral videos of any kind, followed by the trailer for the new Hobbit movie, which has 117,892 shares.
Apple on the other hand didn't even make the Top 20 list.
Samsung's digital agency on the campaign is 72andSunny; Apple's is TBWA/Media Arts Lab.

iPhone 5 benchmarked as the fastest smartphone

I crown the iPhone 5 speed king after pitting it against every other iPhone we've tested, along with today's top Android phones.

The iPhone 5 looks to be the fastest smartphone we've ever tested at PCMag.com.

With its mysterious, Apple-designed A6 processor, the iPhone 5 is unique in the world of smartphones. Most high-end phones nowadays run on one of two architectures: ARM's Cortex-A9, which is used by Nvidia, Texas Instruments and others, and Qualcomm's Krait. But the A6, as AnandTech discovered, is something completely different—an ARM-compatible system-on-a-chip designed, top to bottom, by Apple.

Google Maps & Apple maps alternatives

If you are among those who has been very disappointed with the new maps on iOS 6, you are in very good company.

Fortunately, there are a number of free apps out on the iTunes App Store that will let you find your way around town, without paying anything more than data charges.

They might not be as good as Google Maps, but while we wait for a Google Maps app (will one ever come?), they should be more than handy for all ye looking for a spot of navigation without paying a penny for the app itself.

Best games for iPhone 5

If you're among the millions who pre-ordered an iPhone 5 or braved the elements (and friendly ridicule) to stand in line to get one in person, what are you planning on doing with it?
Tons of stuff, we'd reckon, but almost certainly you'll want to test out that fancy 4-inch Retina screen and speedy A6 processor by checking out some new games for your new toy. Sadly, EA's Real Racing 3 -- the one game Apple chose to show off the device's gaming potential during their iPhone 5 press conference -- won't be out of the shop until later this year. Try these eight showstoppers instead.
Wild Blood
Gameloft, $6.99
King Arthur's court gets a mobile makeover in this gorgeous hack 'n slash action romp. You play as a demon-slicing version of Sir Lancelot out to stop your mad king from unleashing hell. You know, just like the books! Except  the books weren't powered by the Unreal Engine 3, which helps make Wild Blood one of the most graphically rich games ever to grace an iOS device. Better yet, it's already been fully-optimized for the new screen on your iPhone 5, so get hacking.

Not Ready for iPhone 5?

The good news for plenty of current iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users pondering buying the new iPhone 5 is that they'll get many of the 200 new features in Apple's (AAPL) free update for mobile software, iOS 6, available on Wednesday.

I've compiled a handful of the most significant features you'll get with the iOS software update, which I tested on the iPhone 5 and the newest iPad. Some older devices won't be able to use all of these features and one feature will work only on the iPhone 5: taking a still photo while recording a video. Here are some highlights of the new features. There are many more features too numerous to mention.

Review: Dell XPS 14 Ultrabook

Not so long ago, most laptops used to be the hideous black plastic boxes. And then Apple'sMacBook Pro - and in 2008 - MacBook Airhappened. This put a squeeze on the laptop makers like Dell and HP. For some time, these companies resisted. But then had to give up as consumers demanded better-looking laptops.

Nowadays, the high-end laptop market is full of some pretty machines. Dell XPS 14, which belongs to Dell's ultrabook range, is one such laptop. But we have seen that getting aesthetics as well functionality right has proved a bit difficult for most laptop makers.
Even though machines look good, they lack refinements in areas like screen, keyboard and touchpad. Dell claims XPS 14 is a beauty with brawn. It doesn't compromise. Let's find if this is the high-end laptop you should buy...

iPhone 5 review

The Apple iPhone 5 is finally here, with the latest arrival boasting a 16:9, 4 inch screen, new smaller port, thinner, lighter design and 4G LTE.
Last year's iPhone 4S always felt like an incremental upgrade rather than a true step change, and although it sold wonderfully for Apple and brought some interesting additions, few would argue against the suggestion that it opened the door for competitors.
As a result, this year's launch was perhaps most important for Apple since the very first iPhone arrived back in 2007.
For anyone following the rumours over the past year, the iPhone 5 will not bring any major surprises, with many of the new features expected – including the new dimensions and the improved A6 chip.
The camera is smaller, hardier and enhanced by the more powerful chip, and the front facing camera is bumped up to a 720p version. WiFi is improved and the inclusion of 4G is a must have in the current phone world.

iPhone 5 preview

Apple’s next iPhone is official, and despite being the sixth iPhone model (technically), we know it’s officially the iPhone 5.
Over the last year, we've heard a ton of rumors about what it might deliver with LTE, a taller display, and a redesigned connector being the most likely tidbits. Fortunately, we now can put all that speculation to rest as Apple spilled the secrets.
The Apple iPhone 5 is finally here, with the latest arrival boasting a 16:9, 4 inch screen, new smaller port, thinner, lighter design and 4G LTE.
Last year's iPhone 4S always felt like an incremental upgrade rather than a true step change, and although it sold wonderfully for Apple and brought some interesting additions, few would argue against the suggestion that it opened the door for competitors.
As a result, this year's launch was perhaps most important for Apple since the very first iPhone arrived back in 2007.

Taller, thinner, and a metal back
As expected, the new iPhone is 18 percent thinner (0.30 inch vs. 0.37 inch thick) than the iPhone 4S. Apple says it's the thinnest handset around, but that's a race that changes often. That means it's also 20 percent lighter for a total of 3.95 ounces. The Retina Display expands from 3.5 inches (its size since the original iPhone) to 4 inches. The total resolution remains the same, though, at 326 pixels per inch. The total pixel count is 1,136x640, and we now have a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Top rumours about Apple's iPhone 5

Apple Inc distributed invitations to an event in San Francisco on September 12, setting the stage for what is widely expected to be the release of the iPhone 5. The typically cryptic invitation said 'It's almost here', sported a number 12 - corresponding to the date of the event - and cast a large shadow of the number 5, a clue that the fifth version of the popular smartphone could be in the pipeline. The event will take place at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the preferred venue for the unveiling of past products such as the iPad.

 Here's a look a the top rumours about the most-anticipated Apple device till date:

#1 The new screen could measure 4 inches from corner to corner, one source has said, an increase from the 3.5-inch display that has been held constant since the smartphone began selling in 2007 and revolutionized the mobile industry.

Best upgrades and add-ons for your computer

Is your computer getting on in years? You're not alone.
And so you've got one of two choices: if cash is tight, you'll need to stick it out for a while longer and deal with what you have, but those with the budget might consider buying a new PC or Mac, typically ranging in price from $600 to $1200.
There's a third option, however: You can still breathe new life into your aging computer by picking up the right add-ons and accessories.
Some are designed to boost performance — such as more system memory (RAM), a better graphics card for desktops or new battery for laptops — while others can spice up your time spent with your PC or Mac, such as a bigger monitor, new mouse or keyboard, external hard drive, speakers, HD webcams, gaming controllers, USB hubs or decorative skins.
And hey, if you need a little extra incentive to treat yourself to a new peripheral, remember they can often be used with a new computer when you're ready to take the plunge.
The following is a look at a few recommended hardware accessories to add to the functionality and longevity of your computer.

Amazon introduces new Kindle HD tablets

Online retail giant Amazon introduced a new suite of its Kindle devices, from 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD tablet computer to e-reader Kindle Paperwhite with front-lit display. Amazon unveiled larger Kindle Fire tablets, challenging Apple Inc's dominant iPad with lower prices and a trove of digital content that Amazon hopes will win it a bigger share of the booming tablet market. The debut of Kindle Fire HD is seen as Amazon's new strategy to step up competition against Apple, which is expected to introduce a smaller iPad, possibly called 'iPad Mini'.

Nokia unveils Windows 8 Lumia phones

Finnish firm Nokia has finally launched its smart phone handsets powered by Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 operating system. Microsoft and Nokia unveiled the new Lumia 820 and 920 smartphones at a special event in New York.

According to the BBC, the new Lumia 920 features wireless charging and a 'PureView' camera, which the mobile firm said offered better video and still images than rival smartphones. It also features several Nokia-only functions designed to make it stand out from other Windows Phone 8 devices.The firm claimed that 'floating lens technology' meant the handset could capture up to 10 times the amount of light than other handsets.

Google Launches Free Voice Navigation In India

Finally, Indians can enjoy the privilege of a free and accurate voice assisted navigation, as Google launched its navigation service in India. 


This service would allow the Smartphone and Tablet owners to get turn-by-turn voice instructions to reach the destination by walk or drive. The service will be available free for Android platforms.

Even though the app was available free with the Android versions, it lacked official supported till now. The current beta version of this app was found to be accurate in a test by TOI. The users can select instructions either for walking or driving and the app automatically reroutes its coordinates, in case the user deviates from proposed path. It also provides layered information on the popular landmarks, petrol bunks, ATMs and restaurants on the way.

According to Darren Baker, product manager for Google Maps, “the service, which is available in 40 languages in 74 countries, is now offered only in English. However, the announcement of upcoming directions in the navigation service is in a ‘friendly, familiar Indian accent’”. India is a ‘dynamic and fast-growing’ market for online map services, he continued.

Kindle Fire HD vs. Google Nexus 7

Amazon's brand new Kindle Fire HD and Google's Nexus 7 are entirely different beasts, playing to the respective strengths of the parent companies that hatched them. They're both 7-inch tablets with Android under the hood and their price tags are identical, but that's where the similarities end. While these two tablets are natural head-to-head competitors, remember: there's an Apple announcement, and perhaps the legendary iPad Mini, just around the corner. And if price trumps all, a more basic update on last year's Kindle Fire will only cost you an eminently wallet-friendly $159.

No Wi-Fi on Your Phone? New MicroSD Card Changes That in a Flash

Believe it or not, there are a number of data-equipped cell phones that lack integrated Wi-Fi (like the new BlackBerry Tour). If you own one of these phones and it has a microSD slot, you may now be able to retroactively add Wi-Fi to it, thanks to a new card developed by KDDI Corp. Similar to wireless network-accessing camera memory cards, these cards can instantly (and hopefully cheaply) add network access to phones and other devices.

Unveiled at the Wireless Japan 2009 expo, the tiny 11 x 16 x 0.7mm card is equipped with an 802.11 b/g antenna. The card was demonstrated at the show with a laptop, (which makes it one of the smallest Wi-Fi dongles out there), but you can bet that smartphones are the desired target here. There's no word yet on pricing, or what phones will be compatible with the card, but it could make Web browsing on your old school flip phone a tolerable experience.

Samsung unveils world's first Windows 8 phone

Samsung Electronics became the first handset maker to announce a smartphone using Microsoft's latest mobile software, making its surprise, hurried announcement just days before the highly anticipated launch of Nokia's version. Samsung said the ATIV phone would hit stores in the October-November period but did not give an exact start date.
The brief announcement at a Berlin electronics show comes amid expectations that smartphone makers may turn increasingly to Windows devices after a US jury decided many of Samsung's Google Android-based phones infringed Apple Inc patents.
Samsung's ATIV S Windows phone sports a high-end 4.8-inch display, Corning "Gorilla" glass, and an 8-megapixel rear camera and 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera.
The ATIV S features a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, a 4.8-inch high-definition Super AMOLED display, 1GB of RAM, microSDHC support, an 8-megapixel camera, and a 2,300 mAh battery.

Samsung's jumbo Galaxy Note phone gets even bigger

Samsung today unveiled a new device that's likely to be the "wild card" in this year's smartphone and tablet wars -- because no one can quite work out which one it is.

The Galaxy Note 2 has a 5.5-inch screen, midway between hit smartphones such as Samsung's Galaxy S3 and tablet computers.

When the original Galaxy Note debuted late last year, its 5.2-inch screen drew both fans and detractors. It became a surprise hit, however, and went on to sell 10 million units. With the Note 2, Samsung is doubling down on its phone-tablet concept.

It's pocket-sized -- just -- but offers the high-end computing power of a tablet, controlled with a stylus that lets users draw onscreen and add written signatures to email.